Differences in anthropometric variables and muscle strength in relation to competitive level in male handball players

Somatic characteristics manifested in different body morphology have great importance for the selection of athletes in most sports. The aim of our study is to evaluate the differences in anthropometric variables and isometric strength of handball players presenting different levels of sports competence, and to study the discriminative power of selected morphological characteristics that do not change in the training process. The study included the results of anthropometric measurements routinely used to monitor athletes, and body proportion indices were calculated. Fat percentage was assessed using the BIA, whereas body build was assessed using the Heath-Carter method. Measurements of right and left hand grip strength and back strength were taken. The results of measurements and calculations were analyzed using statistical methods. It was shown that players presenting the highest level dominate by the overall size and massiveness of the body, characteristics ensuring an advantage in direct confrontation. The size of subcutaneous fat tissue and percentage of body fat varied poorly between athletes in each group. Muscle strength assessed under static conditions shows a gradient in magnitude across teams from higher to lower rank, but the differences are not statistically significant. The same somatotype (balanced mesomorph) was present in all groups. Athletes presenting high sports level are characterized by body proportions that determine biomechanical conditions conducive to optimizing the structure of movements important in handball. Stepwise discriminant analysis showed that throwing-related characteristics (hand length, upper arm length, upper limb span, lower limb length) account for 88% of the variance in team ranking and can be used to identify the morphological predisposition of adepts to play handball.

Ear morphology and morphometry as potential forensic tools for identification of the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba populations of Nigeria

Background The human external ear is unique in every individual in terms of shape, size and dimension making it suitable in forensic anthropology for sex estimation and personal identification purposes. The study aimed to evaluate sexual dimorphism and ethnic specificity of the external ear in major Nigerian ethnic populations. Results There was variation in the morphological features of the external ear of the sampled subjects. The external ear features vary in the right and left ears in both sexes of the ethnic groups. All variables were statistically significant (p < 0.05) except ear width. Univariate discriminant function gave sex prediction accuracies between 56.4 and 57.3% for left and right ears, respectively. Population-specific sex prediction accuracy using stepwise discriminant analysis of left ear variables ranged 58–69.7% and 57.5–74.2% for right ear. Conclusion The ear parameters showed potential for sex estimation, but cannot be solely relied upon for personal identification.

Shape-changing chains for morphometric analysis of 2D and 3D, open or closed outlines

Morphometrics is a multivariate technique for shape analysis widely employed in biological, medical, and paleoanthropological applications. Commonly used morphometric methods require analyzing a huge amount of variables for problems involving a large number of specimens or complex shapes. Moreover, the analysis results are sometimes difficult to interpret and assess. This paper presents a methodology to synthesize a shape-changing chain for 2D or 3D curve fitting and to employ the chain parameters in stepwise discriminant analysis (DA). The shape-changing chain is comprised of three types of segments, including rigid segments that have fixed length and shape, scalable segments with a fixed shape, and extendible segments with constant curvature and torsion. Three examples are presented, including 2D mandible profiles of fossil hominin, 2D leaf outlines, and 3D suture curves on infant skulls. The results demonstrate that the shape-changing chain has several advantages over common morphometric methods. Specifically, it can be applied to a wide range of 2D or 3D profiles, including open or closed curves, and smooth or serrated curves. Additionally, the segmentation of profiles is a flexible and automatic protocol that can consider both biological and geometric features, the number of variables obtained from the fitting results for statistical analysis is modest, and the chain parameters that characterize the profiles can have physical meaning.

Deficiency in the Essential Amino Acids l-Isoleucine, l-Leucine and l-Histidine and Clinical Measures as Predictors of Moderate Depression in Elderly Women: A Discriminant Analysis Study

Increases in depression are common in some elderly women. Elderly women often show moderate depressive symptoms, while others display minimal depressive symptoms. These discrepancies have produced contradictory and inconclusive outcomes, which have not been explained entirely by deficits in neurotransmitter precursors. Deficiency in some amino acids have been implicated in major depression, but its role in non-clinical elderly women is not well known. An analysis of essential amino acids, depression and the use of discriminant analysis can help to clarify the variation in depressive symptoms exhibited by some elderly women. The aim was to investigate the relationship of essential amino acids with affective, cognitive and comorbidity measures in elderly women without major depression nor severe mood disorders or psychosis, specifically thirty-six with moderate depressive symptoms and seventy-one with minimal depressive symptoms. The plasma concentrations of nineteen amino acids, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores, Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) scores, global cognitive scores and comorbidities were submitted to stepwise discriminant analysis to identify predictor variables. Seven predictors arose as important for belong to the group based on amino acid concentrations, with the moderate depressive symptoms group characterized by higher BDI, GDS and cognitive scores; fewer comorbidities; and lower levels of l-histidine, l-isoleucine and l-leucine. These findings suggest that elderly women classified as having moderate depressive symptoms displayed a deficiency in essential amino acids involved in metabolism, protein synthesis, inflammation and neurotransmission.

Molecular electrostatic potential and pattern recognition models to design potentially active pentamidine derivatives against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense

Molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) and pattern recognition (PR) were used to draw potentially active pentamidine derivatives against Trypanosome brucei rhodesiense (T. b. rhodesiense). PR models: Principal Component Analysis, PCA model; Hierarchical Cluster Analysis, HCA model; K-Nearest Neighbor, KNN model; Soft Independent Modeling of Class Analogy, SIMCA model; and Stepwise Discriminant Analysis, SDA model, were built by reducing the dimensionality of a data matrix to twenty-eight pentamidine derivatives and allowed the compounds to be classified into two classes: more active and less active, according to their degrees of activity against T. b. rhodesiense. The study outlined that the properties HOMO (highest occupied molecular orbital) energy, VOL (molecular volume), and ASA_P (water accessible surface area of all polar (½qi½³0. 2) atoms) are the most relevant for the construction of the models. The key structural features required for biological activity investigated through MEP were used as guidelines in the design of thirteen new compounds, which were evaluated by PR models as more active or less active against T. b. rhodesiense. The application of PR models indicated nine promising compounds (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 36, 37, 39, and 40) for synthesis and biological assays.

Morphological Variation and Discriminating Traits of Kersting’s Groundnut Accessions

Kersting’s groundnut [Macrotyloma geocarpum (Harms) Maréchal & Baudet] (KG) is a nutritious, subterranean grain legume in West and Central Africa. Only limited information is available on the morphological traits that can discriminate accessions; without such information, appropriate breeding strategies cannot be devised. This study aimed to identify discriminating traits and assess the diversity among accessions of Kersting’s groundnut. Eighty-one KG accessions from Benin and Burkina Faso were evaluated based on 29 qualitative and quantitative traits. An experiment was conducted using an Alpha lattice design with three replications. Standardized Shannon-Weaver index (H') and descriptive statistics were calculated for qualitative traits. Pearson correlation coefficients, stepwise discriminant analysis, principal component analysis, cluster analysis and canonical discriminant analysis were conducted. Results showed that accessions varied greatly based on growth habit (H'= 0.68), flower color (H' = 0.50), seed-eye shape (H' = 0.47), and stem pigmentation (H' = 0.41). Eight quantitative traits, viz., seed width, seed thickness, number of branches per plant, petiole length, days to 50% flowering, number of seeds per pod, pod width, and pod length, were found to significantly discriminate the accessions. Accessions were grouped into three clusters based on quantitative traits. Cluster 1 had accessions with late flowering and good vegetative growth, Cluster 2 contained accessions with high germination percentage and Cluster 3 had accessions with high yield performance. Seed length varied greatly among accessions, thus indicating the potential for improving yield via seed size.

Evidence of Sex Differentiation Based on Morphological Traits During the Early Development Stage of Mud Crab Scylla paramamosain

In order to uncover the sexual difference in morphology and how early they appear during the development stage of mud crab Scylla paramamosain, we measured, observed, and biostatistically analyzed morphological traits related to sex. For unveiling the morphological differences between sexes, morphological traits involving abdomen width (AW), carapace length (CL), and carapace width (CW) were first measured during the crablet development stage of S. paramamosain in the present study. The correlation analyses and path analyses exhibited that sexual dimorphism in the third abdomen width (AW3) and fourth abdomen width (AW4) could be used for sex identification from stage C VI (stage VI of crablet). Based on the stepwise discriminant analysis and standardized traits, a sex discriminant equation was constructed, which is capable for sex identification in crablets from stage C VI. Observations for secondary sexual traits and abdomen morphology (shape and pleopods) using a dissecting microscope or scanning electron microscope indicated that sexes are easily identified at stage C VIII according to the abdomen shape; meanwhile, at stage C II based on pleopod difference, and at stage C I by the presence or absence of gonopores. The findings in this study contribute greatly to the accuracy of sex identification of S. paramamosain during the early development stage, which promotes the understanding of the morphological differentiation mechanism of sex.

Similar or Different Neuropsychological Profiles? Only Set Shifting Differentiates Women With Bipolar vs. Borderline Personality Disorder

There is ongoing debate about the similarities and differences between bipolar disorder (BD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD). Very few studies have concurrently assessed their neuropsychological profile and only on a narrow array of neuropsychological tests. We aimed to investigate the differences of these two patient groups on visual memory, executive function, and response inhibition. Twenty-nine BD patients, 27 BPD patients and 22 controls (all female) were directly compared on paired associates learning (PAL), set shifting (ID/ED), problem solving (SOC), and response inhibition (SSRT) using Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). Rank-normalized outcomes were contrasted in one-way ANOVA tests. Discriminant analysis was finally performed to predict BD or BPD patient status. BD patients performed significantly worse than controls on all tasks. BPD patients performed significantly worse than HC on all tests except SST. Significant differences between the two patient groups were recorded only on ID/ED, where BPD patients performed worse (p = 0.044). A forward stepwise discriminant analysis model based on ID/ED and SOC predicted correctly patients' group at 67.9% of cases. In conclusion, BD and BPD female patients appear to be more similar than different as regards their neuropsychological functions. This study is the first to show that BPD patients display more deficits than BD patients when directly compared on the set shifting executive function test, a marker of cognitive flexibility. Discerning BD from BPD patients through neuropsychological performance is promising but would improve by using additional subtler tests and psychometric evaluation.

Use of multivariate analysis as a tool in the morphological characterization of the main indigenous bovine ecotypes in northeastern Algeria

Sustainability in livestock farming requires monitoring of autochthonous breeds which are well adapted to the local environment. The morphometric measurements seem to be the first approach which can provide useful information on the suitability of animal genetic resources for selection. In this work, thirteen morphometric variables were used for the phenotypic characterization of 130 adult autochthones cattle randomly selected from 30 local farms in Guelma. There were cases from four commonly accepted and traditional ecotypes: Guelmois, Cheurfa, Sétifien and Fawn. The results showed several and significant positive correlations between the different variables. Correlations were analyzed using Varimax orthogonal rotation PCA and three factors were extracted, which explain more than 75% of the total variation in the four ecotypes. Stepwise discriminant analysis showed that 6 of the 13 variables had discriminatory power to define the phenotypic profile of the ecotypes. Canonical discriminant analysis indicated that the Sétifien ecotype is separate from the other three ecotypes. Mahalanobis distances were significant between the different ecotypes except for the distance between the Guelmois and Fawn ecotypes. The cross-validation procedure assigned 91.42% of the Sétifien animals to their genetic group, while the percentages of animals assigned to the Cheurfa, Guelmois and Fawn ecotypes were 80.00%, 65.71% and 53.33% respectively. The multivariate approach has proven to be effective in differentiating the four ecotypes, with clear morphological differences from the Sétifien ecotype that may benefit from a genetic improvement program for more sustainable genetic resources preservation.

P–078 Prognostic factors for male fertility recovery after microsurgical varicocelectomy

Study question What clinical and laboratory parameters are reliable predictors of spontaneous pregnancy (SP) after microsurgical varicocelectomy in men from infertile couples? Summary answer Predictors of SP after microsurgical varicocele repair are the male age, baseline total sperm motility, and postoperative increase level of TPMSC. What is known already Varicocele is the most common correctable cause of male subfertility. According to the recent meta-analyses and studies, microsurgical varicocelectomy is the “golden standard” method for varicocele repair. However, it is still unclear why at least one-third of subfertile men do not experience improvement in semen parameters and more than half of them do not report fertility recovery after varicocelectomy. There is no consensus so far on the factors affecting the efficacy of varicocele repair in men from infertile couples. Study design, size, duration This retrospective study comprises 93 men from infertile couples, with palpable varicocele, astheno-/oligozoospermia, and who underwent microsurgical subinguinal or inguinal varicocelectomy from September 2015 to May 2019. Participants/materials, setting, methods The changes in semen analysis were assessed (in 3–6 months after surgery) according to WHO–2010, spontaneous pregnancy (SP) rates after surgery also were considered. A stepwise discriminant analysis was performed to identify predictors of SP after varicocelectomy. An increase in TPMSC by at least 12.5 million was defined as a significant effect (SE) of varicocelectomy (reference values for the total number and progressive sperm motility according to WHO–2010: 39 million x 0.32 (32%) progressively motile). Main results and the role of chance Almost all semen parameters (except for semen volume) changed positively after surgery. Sperm concentration increased from 62 mln/ml (17–107) to 85 mln/ml (39–134) p &lt; 0.001, TPMSC increased by an average of 27 mln (2.8 times; p &lt; 0.001). SE was observed in 52% of cases (n = 48), a slight favorable effect in 21% (n = 20), and no effect in 27% (n = 25). 29 patients (31%) reported SP within a year after varicocele repair. 83% of patients (24 from 29) who reported pregnancy after varicocelectomy showed SE. According to the stepwise discriminant analysis, significant predictors of pregnancy after varicocelectomy were the male age (coefficient of the canonical discriminant function = –0.16), the initial total sperm motility (0.02), and the postoperative increase of TPMSC (0.01). Wilks’ lambda was 0.67 and canonical correlation 0.57. The predictive ability of the prognostic model (discriminant function) with these three predictors was 84%, specificity 87%, and sensitivity 76%. The function real predictive accuracy for SP was 70% (21 correct out of 30 predicted). Limitations, reasons for caution The small sample size and the inability to obtain accurate data on the health condition of female partners were the main limitations of the study. Nevertheless, the findings are statistically significant, which suggests that they can be extrapolated to the general sample of subfertile men with clinical varicocele. Wider implications of the findings: The proposed algorithm (function) for the prediction of SP showed satisfied predictive accuracy, and after its external validation can be recommended in 3–6 months after varicocele repair to decide whether it is advisable to expect an SP within a year or to include an infertile couple in ART programs immediately. Trial registration number Not applicable